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Copper weighed down by weak need, strong dollar

Copper costs fell on Thursday, dragged down by weak demand in top consumer China and a strong U.S. dollar following hawkish Federal Reserve minutes.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME). was down 1.4% to $10,273 per metric heap by 0730 GMT,. while the most-traded July copper contract on the Shanghai. Futures Exchange (SHFE) fell 4.2% to 83,080 yuan. ($ 11,468.49) a ton.

The losses featured earnings taking after rates hit record. highs on Monday, and as some begun to build brief positions,. traders stated.

A mix of basic material lacks and demand optimism. have actually brought in speculative buying in copper, causing a gain. of 21% for LME copper so far this year.

But the cost rises have resulted in waning demand in China and. pushed inventories higher.

Still, many think copper prices will stay on an upward. trajectory given a looming global deficit and geopolitical. uncertainty.

Analysts at Citi Research said they still strongly think. that copper will strike up to $15,000 per heap in the next 12-to-18. months.

Likewise weighing on the marketplace on Thursday was a strong dollar,. after the minutes of the last Fed conference exposed a desire. to raise rate of interest among some authorities.

A stronger dollar makes it more costly to buy the. greenback-priced product.

Other base metals trended lower. LME aluminium moved. 1.1% to $2,608.50 a heap, nickel dropped 1.4% to $20,075,. zinc shed 1.4% to $3,020.50, tin slipped 1.5% to. $ 32,995, and lead was 2% lower to $2,268.50.

SHFE aluminium lost 2.9% to 20,780 yuan a lot, zinc. dropped 2.2% to 24,345 yuan, tin fell 3.1% to. 270,300 yuan, lead slid 1% to 18,365 yuan, and nickel. tumbled 4% to 151,410 yuan.

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DATA/EVENTS (GMT)

0500 Japan Store Sales YY April

0715 France HCOB Mfg, Serv, Compensation Flash PMIs May

0730 Germany HCOB Mfg, Serv, Compensation Flash PMIs May

0800 EU HCOB Mfg, Serv, Compensation Flash PMIs May

0830 UK Flash Comp, Mfg, Serv PMIs May

1230 United States Preliminary Jobless Claim Weekly

1445 US S&P Global Mfg, Svcs, Compensation Flash PMIs May

1400 EU Consumer Confid. Flash May

1400 United States New Home Sales-Units April.

(source: Reuters)